World taking Timon by storm

Not many people would’ve blamed Alero World for leaving after all the uncertainty surrounding Bishop Timon this summer. As a junior, he could’ve gone to any public or private school in the area and continued to play basketball.

However, Timon is home to World and he couldn’t just leave home.

“I took it as ‘this is my chance’,” World said. “I found my home here at Timon. The atmosphere is great, the student section comes out every night. I love it here.”

Thursday night World gave the ‘Timon Militia’ a lot to cheer about scoring a team-high 22 points as the Tigers took down the Global Concept Charter School Gators 85-46 in non-league boys high school basketball action.

According to Timon head coach Jason Rowe, World is an all-around player for the Tigers who will be key going forward.

“He means a lot,” Rowe said. “Anytime you get a guy that plays inside and outside is big. Every day his confidence is getting higher. We’ll go far if he continues to play well.”

After taking a 41-29 lead at the half, the Tigers came out strong in the third quarter going on a 10-2 quick run. World started things off with a steal that he subsequently turned into points. He followed it up less than a minute later with a put-back.

Timon continued their strong play after the Gators’ timeout as junior transfer Julian Cunningham found senior Master Radford who dunked it in to give the Tigers a 22-point lead halfway through the stanza. Cunningham hit a three-pointer after Timon rebounded a missed free throw from World. Junior Angel Torres capped off the 26-point quarter and put the game out of reach for Global Concepts with a basket from beyond the arc.

“We didn’t match their intensity in the first half,” Rowe said. “I talked to the guys in the locker room at half about coming out hard and playing smarter.”

World got the Tigers going scoring the first basket of the game. Timon got momentum after forcing a shot-clock violation. Cunningham got a steal n’ score to extend the lead to 10-3 with three and half minutes left in the first.

The Wallace brothers responded for Global Concepts. Elder brother, senior Donovan picked up a loose ball and hit an open layup. His younger brother, Torian made a raindrop shot to cut the deficit to 10-7. But Tonge came right a knocked down a three-pointer on the next procession for Timon.

Torian made a shot from downtown to bring the Gators back within three points with a minute left in the quarter but that was as close as they would get to hosting Bishop Timon.

The Gators have a young team this year as Donovan Wallace is the lone senior in the starting lineup.

Global Concepts head coach Antwan Anderson was expecting a tough game for his team and is hoping that they can take a lot away from it.

“We are an undersized team and we’re a young team,” Anderson said. “They’ve helped us out tremendously for league play.”

Rowe, who played serval years of pro basketball overseas, takes over the basketball program at Timon after Des Randall resigned this past summer.

The new head coach is having the time of his life.

“It’s fun,” Rowe said. “I have the easiest job in the world. I get to help kids on and off the floor. I’m playing basketball, I love it.”

Cunningham ended the game with 12 points. Radford and junior Tahron Goudelock had 11 points.

For World, the new staff has created a very team-friendly atmosphere for the Tigers.

“The new coaching staff is focused on helping the team,” World said. “We have to go out there and execute as a team, not just individuality. I really like what they bring.”